Summary
- Vessel of Hatred's story sets the stage for Diablo 4's future expansions.
- A holy knight class like a Paladin or Crusader could complement Diablo 4's continued story and combat Mephisto.
- The absence of a "sword and board" class may signal room for a Paladin or Crusader type class.
While the new Spiritborn class introduced with Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred's expansion has impressed with its unprecedented versatility and raw power, it's ultimately just another stepping stone toward a bigger and better ARPG experience. As Diablo 4 continues to move forward into its future, more expansions are likely on the way, along with even more new classes that will hopefully give the Spiritborn some friendly competition. The only question is what those classes might be.
As the pool of RPG classes continues to increase in size, with many developers now looking for creative ways to evolve the genre's core classes, there is plenty of potential for Diablo 4's future regarding new playable characters. That being said, as far as its immediate future and next expansion goes, there is one clear route it can take that would not only provide players with a class that has been missing from the game but also serve as a complement to the continued story of Diablo 4.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Ending Explained
There is a lot to unpack in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's cliffhanger ending, as it somewhat concludes the expansion's story and sets up the future.
A Holy Knight Class Would Complement Diablo 4's Continued Story
Vessel of Hatred Ended With Mephisto's Corruption of Akarat's Mortal Body
Vessel of Hatred's story has been divisive due to its open-ended conclusion and anticlimactic plot points, but it has nonetheless left the game's story with a clear direction moving forward. At the end of Vessel of Hatred's narrative, the mortal body of Akarat, the Shepherd of Light, is handed over to Mephisto by Eru and is later consumed by Mephisto's corruption to become the Lord of Hatred's new vessel.
Ultimately, this symbolizes the downfall of the light and establishes the motif for Diablo 4's next expansion, which will presumably feature a world bathed in an overwhelming sense of doom and hopelessness, as Akarat himself, the formerly incorruptible one, has been claimed by Mephisto. However, Akarat still lives on in some form, as confirmed in his promise to Neyrelle that she would see him again, and with the end of Vessel of Hatred's story teasing the return of Tyrael, it could mean big things for the next expansion's new class.
Diablo 4's Next Class Being a Holy Knight Would Be Fitting
Unlike its predecessors, Diablo 4 has been missing a classic "sword and board" class since launch. Despite many requests that Blizzard add one to the game, the developer has doubled down on its decision to exclude one, inferring that it prefers to introduce more complex classes than simple, traditional classes. Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean that a holy knight type of class is off the table, especially in light of the current direction of Diablo 4's overarching narrative and classes the series has featured in the past.
Akarat still lives on in some form, and the end of Vessel of Hatred's story teasing the return of Tyrael could mean big things for the next expansion's class.
Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, for instance, both featured a holy knight class of some sort, with Diablo 2 offering a Paladin class and Diablo 3 eventually implementing a Crusader class. In other words, the blueprint is there. Diablo 4 just needs to reinvent it now according to Blizzard's new class standards. Furthermore, with Vessel of Hatred's story teasing the return of Tyrael and a holy knight class arguably being exactly what is needed to fend off Mephisto, it would make sense for Diablo 4's next class to be a Paladin or Crusader-type class, but with a unique characteristic like the unmatched versatility of Vessel of Hatred's new Spiritborn class.
It's too soon to tell where Diablo 4's story will go from here, but the facts as they stand suggest a holy knight class like a Paladin or Crusader could be on the way. The only hope is that Blizzard will devise a way to make it just as special as the Spiritborn class, if not more so.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
